At the United Nations, the Obama administration used its veto power for the first time to block a Security Council resolution declaring Israeli settlement activity to be declared “illegal.” The final vote on the measure was 14 to 1. Co-sponsors of the resolution included Britain, France and Germany. U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice defended the vote.

U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice: “Unfortunately, this draft resolution risks hardening the positions of both sides. It could encourage the parties to stay out of negotiations and, if and when they did resume, to return to the Security Council whenever they reach an impasse.”

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said his country “deeply appreciated” the United States for its use of the veto, but Palestinian officials reacted with shock. A day of rage is being organized in the West Bank and Gaza for Friday.

Ahmed Assaf, spokesperson for Fatah: “The Palestinian people want the American administration to be the sponsor of the peace process, not of settlements and occupation. When it voted for the sake of Israel, it supported Israel’s continued building of settlements.”